NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was dealt "another humiliating defeat" last week when Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension was overturned, but "few -- if any -- colleagues or observers with NFL knowledge consider Goodell's job in trouble," according to S.L. Price of SI. Steelers President Art Rooney II said, "I’ve certainly never had that thought in my mind, that any of these were survival issues for Roger. And I have not gotten that sense from other owners. We have disagreements, but none of this has amounted to something that is a question of Roger’s survival as our commissioner.” Former NFLer Charlie Batch, who was on the NFLPA's exec committee, said, "Roger’s job is safe. I don’t think this puts into question anything, on the owners’ side, to make them want to change. His goal was to be a $25 billion a year industry by 2025, and he’s on his way. If he hits the benchmarks he promised, he’s going to be safe. I don’t think there’s any reason now to question whether he’s able to hit those numbers.” But Price writes that "doesn’t mean ... that Goodell has not been weakened by an annus miserabilis that began last fall" when several of his penalties to players were reduced. His most "severe punishments feel arbitrary or disproportionate." A former NFL exec who worked with Goodell on several projects said that is a result of “shooting from the hip and making it up as he goes along and trying to be too tough.” Goodell, "unlike effective communicators" such as late MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti and former NBA Commissioner David Stern, has been "abysmal at selling his reasoning to the public." Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent: "I don’t think Roger gets out there enough and explains what he’s doing. I don’t think he stands up and takes the heat."
FINDING THE RIGHT SUPPORT GROUP: Price notes those who have "seen Goodell in action say he’s a talented negotiator and tireless worker with a fierce temper, but he has no legal training and he surrounds himself with loyalists." Former NFL VP/Business Affairs Frank Hawkins: "I don’t think Rog has the right staff, and as a result, failings that his staff should’ve guarded him against are hurting him. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he is in trouble in terms of his tenure. But could I see it hurting the commissionership? Yeah, I could.” A former pro sports exec said of Goodell, "He’s getting strange advice. I hate to say it, but it probably helps to be a lawyer. Since you know you’re going to be attacked by competent lawyers and have an enemy in the union who’s trying to bring you down, you’ve got to do your best to make it judgment-proof.” But former NFL GM and Pro Football HOFer Bill Polian said, "I worked with these guys since 1989. They’re excellent lawyers. To cast them as villains is to me despicable." Meanwhile, Price notes independent arbitrators on appeals "have been part of" the NBA, NHL and MLB for decades. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "It’s on the way. Commissioners are almost being forced to be involved less and less on player disciplinary matters. That trend will continue. But Roger’s still got the responsibility of looking after the players and, most important, the experience of the fans.” Price writes if he is "smart, Goodell will now focus on what he does best: revenue enhancement." The "temptation will be to blame" Judge Richard Berman or Brady or the "times we live in for his diminishing stature, but football’s last big commissioner shouldn’t delude himself." Price: "It couldn’t have happened without him" (SI, 9/14 issue).
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John Mara reportedly has become a close
confidant of Goodell |
WINNING BACK SUPPORT: In Boston, Ben Volin writes Goodell "was in serious trouble last year" after the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson fallout. Goodell is signed through '19, and there was "talk about not renewing his contract once it expires." However, his handling of Deflategate "seems to have won him back some supporters" despite Brady’s penalty being thrown out (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/9). In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Patriots Owner Robert Kraft for "a long time ... was Goodell’s closest confidante, a position that now belongs" to Giants President & CEO John Mara (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/9). In San Jose, Mark Purdy wrote until this week, he was 90% sure that Goodell "would survive all the darts thrown at him and serve as NFL commissioner as long as he wished because teams are making so much money under his leadership." Purdy: "Not any more. I believe the NFL owners will look for a diplomatic way to relieve him of his duties within a year or two -- or certainly by 2019 when his contract comes up for renewal" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/9).
DOING HIS JOB: SPORTS ON EARTH's Jason Hirschhorn writes Goodell to many observers "continues to flounder on matters such as player discipline and domestic violence." However, to those who "actually decide whether Goodell remains in his post have, by and large, endorsed his actions." Hirschhorn: "In spite of his gaffes, Goodell has overseen the most profitable period in the NFL's history. Certainly, the league's coffers would have grown regardless of who was in charge, but Goodell helped has accelerated the process, particularly by generating more interest in the sport abroad. That has lined the owners' pockets and in turn insulated Goodell from the mob of torch- and pitchfork-wielding critics at the gates" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 9/9). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone noted Goodell is "doing the job of the owners." Blackistone: "He told the owners years ago that this would never again happen on his watch, where they would let a team get away with cheating, and he would do everything he could to get it out of the game. He took this to a federal court and now is taking it to appeal. He is doing exactly what they would want to do. I think they would be happy with this.” ESPN's Pablo Torre added, “I don't think his job security is threatened because the record number of profits are still going up.” The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke: “These guys love him, and that shows how messed up the NFL is right now” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 9/8).
PATRIOT GAMES: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote yesterday's ESPN report on the team's alleged involvement in Spygate "delivered the latest episode of 'As the Patriots Turn,' and it was pretty eventful, even by New England standards -- 'New England Standards' being that having a former star tight end convicted of murder this offseason was like the franchise's 14th biggest storyline" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/8). In N.Y., Michael O'Keeffe writes it is the "NFL scandal that refuses to die" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/9). In Miami, Greg Cote writes, "On the doorstep of the NFL season, we are invited to revisit whether the New England Patriots cheated their way to championships, and to marvel how Goodell, the blundering commissioner, has become the embarrassment that keeps on giving. Roger keeps pulling the cord, but the parachute keeps not opening" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/9). FORBES.com's Alex Reimer wrote it should "come as no surprise that many of the statements" Goodell made to ESPN's "Mike & Mike" yesterday "don't appear to stand up" (FORBES.com, 9/8).
PLEASE READ THE LETTER: THE MMQB's Matt Gagne in an open letter to Goodell wrote of Deflategate, "Let it go!" Gagne: "It would probably be the most uncomfortable night of your life, but showing up and taking the heat would go a long way toward making people see you as a fallible person rather than a multimillion-dollar suit running a multibillion-dollar corporation that won’t stop until it gets its way. Do NFL fans everywhere a favor, Roger: Drop the appeal and give a televised interview from Gillette Stadium in which you say, with great candor, 'We made our case. We took it to court. We lost. We’re moving on.' That’s the quickest, most effective way to put the focus back on football and restore public confidence" (MMQB.SI.com, 9/8). Goodell is not scheduled to be at tomorrow night's Steelers-Patriots game, and in Pittsburgh, Joe Starkey writes, "Shouldn't the fearless leader of America's most powerful sports industry have the guts to show his face? I think so. More importantly, I think such an appearance could be transformative for our friend Roger" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/9).
TAKING A STEP BACK? In Boston, Tim Healey notes Brady in an interview yesterday on WEEI's "Dennis & Callahan" was asked if he "might scale back a bit when it comes to regular appearances with outlets such as ESPN and the NFL Network" and some "reading between the lines was necessary to glean insight into Brady’s answer." Brady said he will "need to conserve some energy this year, there's no doubt." Brady: "I don’t know exactly how I’ll approach those things each week. It’s a long season anyway, but the more things that I do -- non-Patriot related, really to help other people out -- you’re right, those things take away from the energy that I may have to do other things" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/9).
